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Lateral view of a Female Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Dun from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
Hex Mayflies
Hexagenia limbata

The famous nocturnal Hex hatch of the Midwest (and a few other lucky locations) stirs to the surface mythically large brown trout that only touch streamers for the rest of the year.

Case view of a Pycnopsyche guttifera (Limnephilidae) (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
It's only barely visible in one of my pictures, but I confirmed under the microscope that this one has a prosternal horn and the antennae are mid-way between the eyes and front of the head capsule.

I'm calling this one Pycnopsyche, but it's a bit perplexing. It seems to key definitively to at least Couplet 8 of the Key to Genera of Limnephilidae Larvae. That narrows it down to three genera, and the case seems wrong for the other two. The case looks right for Pycnopsyche, and it fits one of the key characteristics: "Abdominal sternum II without chloride epithelium and abdominal segment IX with only single seta on each side of dorsal sclerite." However, the characteristic "metanotal sa1 sclerites not fused, although often contiguous" does not seem to fit well. Those sclerites sure look fused to me, although I can make out a thin groove in the touching halves in the anterior half under the microscope. Perhaps this is a regional variation.

The only species of Pycnopsyche documented in Washington state is Pycnopsyche guttifera, and the colors and markings around the head of this specimen seem to match very well a specimen of that species from Massachusetts on Bugguide. So I am placing it in that species for now.

Whatever species this is, I photographed another specimen of seemingly the same species from the same spot a couple months later.
27" brown trout, my largest ever. It was the sub-dominant fish in its pool. After this, I hooked the bigger one, but I couldn't land it.
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Report at a Glance

General RegionRiver Road
Specific LocationRR Trestle to 1/2 mile downstream
Dates FishedFriday April 11
Time of Day10:30 - 3:30
Fish CaughtTen midgets 8" - 10", two about 12", two pretty wild fish > 7". two chubs
Conditions & HatchesWater clear and seemingly quite warm. Thermometer broken but water felt to be mid 60's - ya think that is possible? Good flow and nice nymphing depth. Hardly any Hendrikson's - saw 1/2 a dozen early then none for rest of day. Some Grannoms and also tan caddis. Once in awhile there would be a rise but for the amount of sun and caddis there was very little surface action.

Details and Discussion

Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Apr 12, 2008April 12th, 2008, 7:32 am EDT
Two larger fish on top, all others on mymphs, either a #14 BH PT or a #16 olive caddis with a gray ostrich herl thorax and lemon woodduck downwing.

It's a shame such pretty water and so few mayflies and rising fish.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Backwodzboy
Lancaster County ,Pa.

Posts: 4
Backwodzboy on May 11, 2008May 11th, 2008, 1:16 pm EDT
last time i was over caught 35 fish. most on neon green salmon egg size 12 hook. one nice 22 inch rainbow on this green egg. also try an olive or green scud size 12 to 16. area fished: "The Run" behind boiling springs
lookin for the big ones! (practice catch & release)
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on May 11, 2008May 11th, 2008, 3:29 pm EDT
Didja break their necks and put'em on ur stringer?
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.

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